Last week, in the deep dark of a long summer night, a precious human joined our family and we call him Oak. He brought with him my entry into aunt-hood and I can’t really put into words the joy that is in my heart.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take some time off and be there with my brother and sister-in-law to visit and lend a hand where I could. Mama and baby are healthy and all three of them are doing well.

This is one of the few pictures from this child’s first 48 hours of life in which I’m not about to cry but I sure do get a little misty looking at that sweet face. The keen-eyed among you may notice that my poor nephew has on a ridiculous hat, which of course, I made.

When we were at the baby shower a couple of months ago, there were many cute jokes about Oak being our little acorn. I promptly asked my sister-in-law if it would be too much to make him an acorn hat… and here we are. The pattern here is Acorn Child by Melody Rogers which I knit in two colors of Plies & Hellhounds Traveler Worsted held double to get a nice bulky weight. The dark brown is Leatherbound and the lighter brown is Book Cart. I highly recommend this pattern, it was easy to follow, quick, and came out oh so darling. But enough about that, back to cute baby pictures.

What a face! I love these little serious faces that pass over him while he snoozes.

In other news, the littlest pair of socks fits! I love seeing his tootsies all warm and cozy in the socks that I made for him. That’s an extra special knitter x aunt joy right there.

To be honest, I knew I was excited to become an aunt. I thought and thought about having this little baby here and in our lives. What I didn’t expect out of becoming an aunt was the joy in seeing my brother, someone I am so close to and have gone through so much with, become a dad. I’m ten years older than him and so I remember him being this little too and to now see the man he is today and watch him start this journey with his amazing wife and partner just fills my heart to overflowing.

So, welcome to the family little dude. You are already a son, a grandson, a nephew, and a cousin. Mostly though, you are you and that is special.

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Happy birthday, Oak!